CBS, NBC Censor Obama Admin. Admitting ObamaCare Premiums Skyrocketing

October 24th, 2016 11:43 PM

The Obama administration finally admitted on Monday what so many critics warned would happen, that premiums were going to skyrocket. And skyrocket did as ABC Anchor David Muir reported on World News Tonight, “A new government report revealing premiums will go up an average of 25 percent next year.” ABC’s report is shocking since they spent most of 2016 keeping the program’s collapse a secret. In contrast, their competitors CBS and NBC remained tight lipped about the bad news on their evening programs.

“Also 1 in 5 consumers will have only one insurer to choose from, because several major carriers withdrew from the program,” Muir continued in his 30 seconds long news brief. One would expect such a shocking statistic would have been seencoming a mile way. Well it was, but ABC chose to ignore it like back in August when they and NBC failed to report insurance giant Aetna’s withdrawal from two thirds of the healthcare exchanges set up by the program.

The networks also blacked out how the federal government again missed enrollment projections and how insurers were literally losing billions of dollars because of the program. They were also silent on the push by Congressional Democrats to add the dreaded public option to the failing program.

While ABC was barely catching up, Fox News’ Bret Baier had a “we told you so” moment on Special Report. “Right now, the Obama administration is confirming what we’ve been telling you for weeks. ObamaCare premiums will go up sharply next year,” He reported, “And many consumers will be down to just one insurer.” “Republicans will pounce on the numbers as confirmation that insurance markets created by the 2010 health overhaul are on the verge of collapsing in what they call a “death spiral,”” he stated towards the end of his own news brief. 

When it came to the Spanish-language networks, only Telemundo’s Jose Diaz-Balart cared to give it time. “The government has announced an average increase of 25 percent, way less plans and providers to choose from, due to many insurers reducing their participation in the program,” he said, "Some experts consider that this could generate big problems during the enrollment period that starts on November 1st.”

Transcripts below: 

ABC
World News Tonight
October 24, 2016
6:39:16 PM Eastern 

DAVID MUIR: And to a major headline tonight, sure to fuel debate on both sides in these final days of the campaign. Premiums going up for Americans who depend on ObamaCare. A new government report revealing premiums will go up an average of 25 percent next year, though most of the 10 million users will qualify for more government subsidies. Also 1 in 5 consumers will have only one insurer to choose from, because several major carriers withdrew from the program. The signup season starts November 1st, just days before the presidential election.

...

FNC
Special Report
October 24, 2016
6:00:18 PM Eastern

BRET BAIER: Right now, the Obama administration is confirming what we’ve been telling you for weeks. ObamaCare premiums will go up sharply next year. And many consumers will be down to just one insurer. The Department of Health and Human Services says before taxpayer provided subsidies kick in, premiums for the mid-level benchmark plan will increase an average, an average of 25 percent across the 39 states served by the online market.

And one in five customers will have plans from only one insurer to choose from. The administration insists that subsidies, which are supposed to rise alongside rising premiums, will insulate consumers from massive payouts. State regulators though are not so sure. Republicans will pounce on the numbers as confirmation that insurance markets created by the 2010 health overhaul are on the verge of collapsing in what they call a “death spiral.” The Obamacare open enrollment period starts November 1. One week before Election Day.

TELEMUNDO
NOTICIERO TELEMUNDO
October 24, 2016
6:47:33 PM Eastern

JOSÉ DÍAZ-BALART, ANCHOR, TELEMUNDO: Premiums for health care plans through Obamacare will cost more, starting next year. The government has announced an average increase of 25percent, way less plans and providers to choose from, due to many insurers reducing their participation in the program. Some experts consider that this could generate big problems during the enrollment period that starts on November 1st.